Help Your Oak Furniture Last a Lifetime

Oak furniture is a very wise investment. Proper care of this wood will help it last a lifetime. Oak is the most popular wood type because of its natural durability. This heavy hardwood can withstand a lot of wear and tear. The beautiful grain patterns and intricate shapes make this wood desirable for all types of furniture. The most popular pieces are tables and chairs.

Home Remedies for Scratches and Stains

Anyone who has owned an heirloom oak table knows that eventually something will happen to mar its beauty. It could be anything from a hard water stain to deep scratch on the surface. There are some home remedies to try to get your furniture back in pristine condition. Overnight butter massages and a concoction of cigarette ashes and olive oil are two of the most popular home remedies for stains. Using a hot iron on wet wood can eliminate dents in wood. If you have time to shop for a product, consider using Guardsman® Water Mark Remover for treating water stains, or a Guardsman® Scratch Repair Kit to repair damage from scratches. Remember to refer to your retailer about best care practices before attempting home remedies, or to test them on a hidden section.

The Dangers of Dust

You should also regularly dust your furniture to remove any dust particles. Use a quality dusting cloth that’s gentle on your furniture, such as dusting clothes offered by Guardsman®. In addition, polishing your oak furniture regularly will minimize the effects of scratches and stains, but not entirely eliminate them. That is why it is important to keep up the maintenance. Wood furniture that has been not cared for can look old before its time. Guardsman® offers a variety of polishes for your furniture cleaning needs.

Types of Oak: Care and Maintenance

There are two types of oak wood that are used for furniture: red oak and white oak. Red oak has shorter patterns than white oak. White oak is more durable than red oak and is often used for outside furniture. Red oak has been used for railroad tracks and wagon wheels in the past. It is often used as floor material.

Unfinished oak furniture is popular because it stains well with naturally occurring tannin. The tannin does leak and can stain areas around the wood. To prevent this leakage and maintain its natural beauty, you need to finish it with wax and oil. Oak is considered a “live wood” so it can maintain its structure indefinitely. An important thing to remember here is that there are certain ways to apply the oil or re-apply it.

Proper Oil Treatment

Use sandpaper to sand the wood no finer than 150 grit. Work with light pressure and go with the grain of the wood.

Use a soft Guardsman® cloth to spread the oil evenly over the surface. Wipe up any excess.

It is important to understand that your oak furniture needs regular maintenance to maintain its beauty. Waxing is probably the best way to maintain your furniture’s inner beauty. Furniture experts suggest that oak furniture should be waxed every six months to protect the grain and to keep the wood from cracking.

Proper Wax Treatment

Apply wax in light layers on surface

Work with grain and rub into surface

Leave wax on for five minutes and wax off

If you’re looking for high quality heirloom furniture in San Antonio or New Braunfels, TX, visit Amish Oak in Texas to view our collections and find the perfect high-quality heirloom furniture for your home.